In economics, "Veblen goods" are items for which buying preference increases as price increases -- as the higher the price, the greater the status -- instead of decreasing according to the law of demand. In other words, one is buying something other than the thing itself and the price untethered from the cost of production or necessarily the inherent quality or function of the goods - the essence of luxury goods (and in audio, having lots of parts and multiple boxes, the heavier the better, the more one can extend what the "market is willing to pay" ).
Modern Linestages
This is a general question about how complex and expensive some linestages have become. I'm looking to understand why? I can grasp that really good volume controls are complicated and that equally good switches are not inexpensive. I also have a general understanding of the importance of a high quality power supply, which again is not going to come cheap. I just don't comprehend how you get to a 50lbs. plus preamps that cost well over $20k. Is this level of complexity really needed or is it the equivalent of the spate of 500hp "sedans" for every day driving?
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- 156 posts total
- 156 posts total